Sainsburys Winter Mercury Candle

Steve_Broughton

Just before Xmas we purchased a JS Winter Mercury Candle along with another JS Candle ready for Christmas. On Christmas Day, we lit the Mercury Candle for the first time and left it a total of 4 plus hours in order to ensure that the Candle Burnt evenly. When we went to extinguish the Candle were horrified to notice a very dark soot mark around the top of the Candle and then looked above where the Candle had been burning and noticed Soot marks on our Ceiling, Window Frames in our recently decorated Lounge. As soon as I could (Boxing Day), contacted Sainsbury's Customer Care Dept and informed them of the issue, after a couple of minutes was informed that the complaint would be passed to their Executive Office for them to contact me.
Whilst waiting for them to contact me, went around the rest of the ground floor and noticed that the damage was not just in the Lounge but the smoke had travelled through our Hallway and into our Kitchen and Utility Room. When I spoke with the Executive Office eventually, informed them of this and submitted photos of all damage that we had noticed. The Executive Office had informed me to take the Candle back to Store for them to send away for investigation, which I did. At no stage was I even offered a refund on the Candle that we had purchased. I waited a few days before chasing the Executive Office to ensure that they had received the Candle and was told that the investigation would take up to 6 weeks???. Whilst not happy at this, I challenged the individual (Lauren) at the Executive Office and basically was told that I was to wait for their findings. On the 10th of January we received a letter from Sainsbury's saying that they would have the results within 10 working days and would contact me again nearer the time.
Yesterday, 19th January, whilst measuring for new Blinds, noticed even more damage on the Landing and Main Bedroom where I again, took pictures and e-mailed them to Lauren at the Executive Office, I rang to speak with Lauren and was informed by her that they had just received the report from the Manufacturers investigation and that "Debris" was found in the wax of the Candle, she went on then to say that as a gesture of Good Will they would offer a very small amount of money to compensate us, when I explained that this would not even cover professional cleaning of our curtains and blinds, was basically told take it or leave it. I informed Lauren that this was not acceptable and that I would be looking to take this further, I asked for transcripts of all of the Telephone Calls and also for the Candle to be returned to us (As we had not even been refunded for?.) Lauren then said "I don't think that is possible as they would have thrown it away", therefore destroying the evidence that we had. I then said that I would be seeking legal advice as I have all of the photographic evidence, hence why I am posting for help on this forum, could anyone please let me know how to go about taking this to small claims, however, do not really have the readily available money to fork out for the application.
Please help as still have a house that has soot throughout and also find it amazing that after admission of guilt that they have offered such a miniscule amount as compensation. Thanks

thozza

Sorry to hear about your problem, not sure that it has much to do with energy on a forum for LPG, Heating Oil, Solid & Other fuels?

Ectophile

thozza wrote: »

Sorry to hear about your problem, not sure that it has much to do with energy on a forum for LPG, Heating Oil, Solid & Other fuels?

Well, technically, candles are a solid fuel.

I can't help thinking that mercury candles sound lethal. Mercury is a neurotoxin. The last thing I would want to do is burn the stuff.

Davesnave

I don't think the OP has fully explained what the product is . There is no such thing as a 'mercury candle,' but there are mercury glass candle holders, which nowadays probably don't contain any serious amounts of mercury, if any.

Like this, maybe:

http://www.sainsburyshome.co.uk/product/by-sainsburys-winter-mercury-candle-large/

There main issue here seems to be that the candle smoked and the OP didn't notice. Candles can smoke, and anyone who has a smoky one, for whatever reason, generally extinguishes it. Not doing so might be argued as negligence.

Sainsbury say this smoking was because there was debris in the wax, but it's not clear whether this was supposedly a manufacturing fault, or if they think it's something introduced into the candle by the OP; some kind of scent, for example.

I think that the OP should wait for the lab report before going further.

Finally, I'd say that it could be very difficult to prove where the deposits on the walls/furnishings came from. Evidence from a forensic lab costing serious £££ would likely be needed. If she can't afford to go to small claims, maybe this route won't be open to her.

G_M

we lit the Mercury Candle for the first time and left it a total of 4 plus hours in order to ensure that the Candle Burnt evenly. When we went to extinguish the Candle were horrified to notice.......

Did you not notice that it was giving off smoke during those 4 hours?

Or did you leave it burning in an empty room for 4 hours........... :eek:

POPPYOSCAR

Wow
The smoke travelled all over the house, upstairs in the bedroom as well.

Some candle!